Obstacles standing in the way of TC Energy gained more attention this week when the Holt County Board of Supervisors voted to deny a permit needed to extend its controversial crude oil pipeline southeast from a tar sands processing facility in Canada through Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska’s southern border.
As reported by Net Nebraska, Holt County’s appointed zoning committee recommended the County Board reject TC Energy’s application because it failed to provide information about the proposed pipeline’s impact on the network of rivers, streams, and drainage tiles on private land that controls excess water from cropland, and feeds local water supply.
The vote is a reminder of the looming obstacles TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) will face as it continues to push toward construction of its expanded Keystone XL Pipeline. That includes appeals and legal challenges brought by Domina Law Group on behalf of landowners who control acres of land along the route.
As Attorney Brian Jorde told NET News, our firm’s clients do not believe money offered by TC Energy for property rights and inconvenience during construction is enough to compensate them for their land rights.
"We are appealing on behalf of all of them because the awards simply haven't been in the sum that truly understands the risks and the true costs and the true damage of having this on your land."
Additionally, Domina Law will continue to challenge the legality of the approval process used by the Nebraska Public Service Commission when it authorized the pipeline’s route.
"We're arguing that the entire process of approving the mainline, alternative route which gave rise to the condemnation, is constitutionally invalid."
Read the full article from NET News featuring Brian Jorde’s comments on pending challenges to the Keystone XL Pipeline.